Drive-by shooting sends teen to hospital

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, March 1, 2005

A drive-by shooting in south Midland late Tuesday sent one 15-year-old boy to Midland Memorial Hospital and left authorities seeking a 16-year-old boy believed to be the shooter.

"We heard two shots and then one that broke my window," recalled Luis Martinez, who lives in the home where the shooting occurred. "Then, I ran and told my wife to get down and went outside to check on the boys."

Victoria Olgin, who also lives in the home, said she felt her life was threatened by the incident.

"I had already gone to bed. I mean, they could have killed me," Olgin said. "My bedroom is at the front of the house."

Midland County Sheriff's Office investigator Paul Hallmark said deputies know the identity of the alleged shooter and have a description of his vehicle.

An altercation involving several teenage males began at Dunagan City Park at about 9:30 p.m., one block from 303 Longview where the shooting occurred, Hallmark said.

Martinez said the victim was a friend of his son. He said the boy stopped by his house with another male juvenile to call for a ride after already having been shot at once at the park.

When the juveniles stepped out onto the porch of Martinez's home to make a phone call, Martinez explained they were shot at from a truck passing by the house.

The 15-year-old victim was shot once in the left hip area with a .22-caliber firearm, authorities said. His injuries were not life threatening, according to Hallmark.

Olgin said she believes the alleged shooter is among the same group of juveniles who harassed her son at their home several months ago.

"I'm just glad my son wasn't here," Olgin said.

Hallmark said the suspect was a previous acquaintance of the victim.

Sheriff's Office deputies, Midland Police Department officers and Department of Public Service Troopers were involved in searching for the juvenile suspected of the shooting, Hallmark said.

Martinez said he did not know what initiated the conflict between the juveniles.